Helsinki pastor describes London religious conference as spiritual violence

A Helsinki-based pastor has criticised a London religious conference as an act of spiritual manipulation and violence, prompting the city’s church federation to reassess future participation in such events, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

Petja Kopperoinen, a pastor at Paavali Church in Helsinki, wrote on Instagram that the Alpha International conference—organised by Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), a conservative evangelical Anglican church—featured “misogynistic jokes” and discussions on “healing” sexual minorities. Kopperoinen described prolonged worship sessions as emotionally manipulative but declined further comment to Yle.

The Helsinki Church Federation sent 45 attendees to the event, part of a larger Finnish delegation of about 80. While some participants reported positive experiences, others expressed discomfort with the content. Stefan Forsén, acting director of the federation, acknowledged that elements of the conference could be interpreted as manipulative but stopped short of labelling it spiritual violence.

“Everyone had the choice to engage or not,” Forsén told Yle, adding that future trips will be evaluated more carefully to avoid exposing members to potentially harmful material.

Mixed reactions from participants and researchers

Kati Tervo-Niemelä, a professor of practical theology at the University of Eastern Finland who attended as a researcher, noted that while most feedback was positive, the event included “rotten apples” among speakers. One presenter, she said, promoted an “overly idealised” nuclear family model, emphasising traditional marriage as the sole valid framework for raising children.

Tervo-Niemelä stressed the need for sensitivity in discussions on relationships and family structures. She had previously briefed the Helsinki group on the conference’s ecumenical nature, warning that diverse—sometimes conflicting—viewpoints would be presented.

Forsén confirmed that one New York-based speaker drew criticism for suggesting that LGBTQ+ individuals, Muslims, and Jews had experienced life-changing conversions to Christianity, including a claim that a gay man had married a woman after his conversion. “This was the wrong message,” Forsén said, clarifying that Alpha International does not endorse such narratives.

Church federation to review future conference attendance

The Helsinki Church Federation will now scrutinise international conference participation more rigorously. Forsén emphasised balancing exposure to diverse theological perspectives with protecting attendees from harmful content.

Alpha International, known for its globally distributed Alpha Course introducing Christian basics, has partnerships with Finnish organisations including the Bible Society, Lutheran parishes, free churches, and the Catholic Church. The HTB church, founded in 1829, is recognised for its conservative values within the Anglican tradition.